MILAM HISTORY

This is the fourth in a series ofcolumns on noteworthy womenfrom Milam County’s past whosetalents, determination and skillsmade history over the past 170years.

Amelia Williams, born March 25, 1876, was the oldest of seven children of Thomas Herbert and Emma Massengale Williams.

Like mother like daughter, Amelia took on great responsibilities at the age of 22 when her mother died.

The oldest of four younger sisters she became the head of the household at her mother’s death in 1895.

As a young school girl in Maysfield, her teacher A.K.P. Newton recognized Amelia’s unusual potential, giving her extra lessons and lending her books from his personal library.

This added instruction added to Amelia’s experience and pushed her need for higher education.

Amelia better known as “Sister” to her siblings, took the responsibility of staying at home to get her sisters educated and out on their own.

She was the overseer of the farm and cattle Plantation. When her sister, Harriett, married Hubert Atkinson, he took over the Plantation allowing Amelia to attend Ward Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee.

Amelia passed exams certifying her as a teacher in 1896. She set forth to earn her way teaching and by being a principal in small schools in Milam County.

She taught at San Gabriel, Marlow, Branchville, Baileyville and Cameron. By 1926 she had received degrees from Southwest Texas State University at San Marcos.

Her all-time goal was studying and teaching Texas history of all times and all places.

In the early 1900’s there was little precise, primary personal data of Texas History. In her Model-T Ford, she traveled the state to gain documents from families, and institutions for the University of Texas.

Her main interest was history of the Alamo.

She attained her MA thesis and her doctoral dissertation was entitled ” The Siege and Fall of the Alamo” in 1931.

By 1935 she had written and published “Following General Sam Houston.” In 1943 she and Dr. Eugene C. Baker collaborated in producing the eight-volume set entitled “Writings of Sam Houston.”

Amelia (1875- 1958) is remembered on her tombstone in Little River Cemetery as “A friend, a scholar, a Christian.”